Take part in PACEY's early years practitioner survey

The Building Blocks survey is open to all early years and childcare professionals working in England, whether childminders, nannies, nursery, or pre-school staff.

PACEY says it is the most comprehensive survey of its kind among individual early years practitioners.

The results of the survey will be published in an in-depth report in Spring 2017.

Questions include:

• professional development;
• qualifications and training;
• working conditions;
• finances;
• future plans.

Liz Bayram, chief executive of PACEY, said, ‘Last year our research showed a sector at tipping point – with early years professionals who love their job but whose future was uncertain because of funding levels and business pressures.

'Fast forward 12 months, and with 30 hours on the horizon, there are still many questions that remain unanswered by government. This research will provide a sense check of how the sector has changed over the last year and allow us to pull together a unique and detailed picture of what it’s like to work in early years in 2016.

‘PACEY is committed to supporting a high quality childcare workforce, and we can only do that if we listen to the professionals working in settings day in and day out. Last year the sector told us they felt undervalued and unrecognised for the important job they do. This year, we want to identify the main challenges that front-line professionals are now facing, in providing high quality childcare and learning to children. We would encourage everyone to take part as these results will be used to represent the voice of the sector to policy makers.’

• The PACEY Building Blocks survey is now open to all childcare professionals in England. To take part in the survey go to https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/buildingblocks2016. The closing date is 4 November.